The end came on Monday night for Cash for Clunkers, one of the more popular stimulus packages in recent memory.  And now, the numbers are in: 690,114 vouchers totaling $2.88 billion.  The owners and operators of recycling plants are licking their chops at the amount of business that’s been generated by the popular program—as are the auto manufacturers, dealerships and insurance companies, all of which have seen a boost in bottom-line profitability. 

So what were the top-selling vehicles that participated in Cash for Clunkers?  Here’s the rundown…

Top 10 New Vehicles Purchased

1. Toyota Corolla
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Ford Focus FWD
5. Hyundai Elantra
6. Nissan Versa
7. Toyota Prius
8. Honda Accord
9. Honda Fit
10. Ford Escape FWD

Top 10 Trade-In Vehicles

1. Ford Explorer 4WD
2. Ford F150 Pickup 2WD
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD
4. Ford Explorer 2WD
5. Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD
6. Jeep Cherokee 4WD
7. Chevrolet Blazer 4WD
8. Chevrolet C1500 Pickup 2WD
9. Ford F150 Pickup 4WD
10. Ford Windstar FWD Van

You read right. Cash for Clunkers will end in a few days.  Not even an additional $2 billion could quench the thirst for brand new vehicles this summer.  Initial reports were that the program would end around Labor Day, but apparently that’s out the door. So, contrary to popular belief, you have exactly 4 days to get the deal of a lifetime on a brand new car or truck.  Administration officials stated that applications for rebates will not be accepted after 8 p.m. EDT Monday, August 24.  Better hurry…a few of our staff members just got back from lunch and have reported that the local Toyota dealership is already seeing more traffic than usual.

To see if your vehicle qualifies, use the CarsDirect Cash For Clunkers Calculator.

If you’ve ever wanted to treat yourself to a luxurious sports sedan, now’s probably your best chance to get yourself into a new Audi, Mercedes-Benz or BMW. The entry-level offerings from all three companies have each earned top honors in their class through the years and continue to impress with every new model released, and if you have the right clunker to trade in, these might qualify for up to $4500 off the purchase price.

Whether you’re interested the highly-rated 2010 Audi A4, 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 or 2009 BMW 328i, you’ll be happy to know that all three exude German refinement and a behind-the-wheel experience few automakers can match.  This is not to say they are all the same, however. In this post, we’ll go over the differences between these cars to help narrow down your selection and get you into the luxury car of your dreams.

2010 Audi A4

The 2010 Audi A4 is available with two different engines, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making 211 horsepower and a 3.2-liter V6 making 265 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, but Audi’s famous Quattro all-wheel drive system is available. With the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, fuel economy is fairly reasonable at 21/27 mpg (city/highway). The A4 seats five very comfortably, as Audi prides itself on its interiors. The Audi A4 has the lowest starting price of the three at $31,250.

2010 Mercedes-Benz C300

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 comes with one engine choice, a 228-horsepower 3.0-liter V6, and in two trim levels—Sport Sedan and Luxury Sedan. The Sport Sedan model has a few less bells and whistles than the Luxury Sedan, but is otherwise the exact same car. A sportier-looking grille with a centered silver arrow emblem makes the C300 Sport Sedan stand out a bit more on the road. Another feature that makes the Sport Sedan model stand apart from the Luxury Sedan is the standard 6-speed manual transmission that further adds to the car’s sporty appeal. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive is also available. The C300 Sport Sedan achieves 18/26 mpg (city/highway) and starts at $33,600.

2009 BMW 328i

While the C300 Sport Sedan may sound sporty, the BMW 3-series has a corner on the market when it comes to sportiness. The focus for the 2009 BMW 328i is on precision. Everything from the steering feel to the smoothness of the 230-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 is carefully tuned to constantly remind you that you’re driving a high-performance sports sedan. Its firm yet compliant suspension and silky smooth-shifting 6-speed manual transmission make it the obvious choice for true driving enthusiasts. Also, unlike the other two, the 328i is available as a coupe. The 328i comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system is available. The 328i’s starting price matches the C300’s at $33,600 while fuel economy is slightly better at 18/28 mpg (city/highway).

Hopefully by now you have a better idea of which of these three luxury giants you’re interested in. With all the deals going on right now, you should be able to get your hands on one at a great price.

2010 Audi A4 Prices click here

2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 Prices click here

2009 BMW 328i Sedan Prices click here

Rejoice!  Cash for Clunkers received a refill of an additional $2 billion with the Senate’s 60-37 vote for the wildly popular incentive program, keeping the collective hopes alive for some 500,000 prospective new car owners.  Under obvious pressure from the Obama Administration, the Senate acted swiftly to nullify any chances of stalling the program, which has given the auto industry a much needed boost.  Analysts expect the additional capital to last until Labor Day, although the program is still scheduled to run until October 31st, 2009. 

Autoblog states that Detroit’s big 3 have received nearly half of the CFC pie, with Japanese makes coming in at 36.5% of all CFC sales. 

Ford’s Focus is on fire, taking the #1 spot for vehicles purchased via a CFC-approved trade-in.  And it’s easy to see why, with the Focus getting a solid 24 mpg in the city and a whopping 35 mpg on the highway.  Couple that with the eye-opening starting price, and you have one of the best deals going. 

If you were initially on the fence about buying a new car, it’s time to make the jump, because if our memory serves us well, just a few short weeks ago, “experts” believed that the the program would never run out of the money.   Labor Day is September 7th, less than 5 weeks away.  Act fast, if you have a clunker that meets the Cash for Clunkers criteria, without a shadow of a doubt, NOW is the best time to trade it in and get a brand-new, safer, more fuel-efficient car. 

According to various published reports, the wildly popular Cash for Clunkers program should receive the injection of an additional $2 billion in capital needed to keep car shoppers, dealerships and manufacturers happy.  July was a solid month for auto manufacturers, due no doubt to the droves of SUV owners salivating at the savings.

According to the LA Times blog post, the top five vehicles that have been purchased in the trade-in program are:

1. Ford Focus
2. Toyota Corolla
3. Honda Civic
4. Toyota Prius
5. Toyota Camry

Last week, the House approved the measure seeking an additional $2 billion.  And today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid remained steadfast in his assertion that the Senate would indeed approve the money needed to keep the program running before Congress goes on recess after this Friday.  We hope so.

Links
Use our Cash for Clunkers eligibility calculator to see if your car or truck qualifies.
Click here to start the search for your brand-new car.
Click here to see what you need to bring to the dealer.